بتانا
batana
To tell in Urdu is بتانا (batana).
The verb بتانا is used to pass information to someone. It is a transitive verb, meaning it typically requires an object, either the person receiving the information or the information itself.
Meaning: to pass information (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on the tense: the past tense is بتایا, the future tense is بتائے گا and the present habitual form is بتاتا ہے. If you add ہے to the infinitive to form بتانا ہے, it creates a sense of obligation, meaning 'must tell'.
How do you pronounce it?
batana
Did you know?
- In some colloquial contexts, بتانا is used in a threatening way to mean 'I will show you' or 'I will teach you a lesson', moving far beyond the dictionary meaning of passing information.
- The word بتانا is a causative verb. This means it literally describes the act of 'making' someone else know something, rather than just the act of speaking.
- The root of بتانا is the Sanskrit word वत् (vat) which means 'to speak'.
Examples in context
- تمہیں مجھے بتانا ہوگا۔You must tell me.This sentence is useful for expressing an obligation to tell someone.Tatoeba #4241547 by nabeel_tahir, translation #2038400 by Spamster
- تمہیں ان کو سچ بتانا ہو گا۔You must tell them the truth.This sentence is useful for expressing an obligation to tell the truth to others.Tatoeba #4241503 by nabeel_tahir, translation #3908779 by CH
- کافی مشکل ہے بتانا کہ کونسا بندہ کس ملک سے ہے۔It is very hard to tell what country a person comes from.This sentence is useful for describing the difficulty of telling specific information.Tatoeba #1564782 by nabeel_tahir, translation #67206 by CK
- کیا آپ ہمیں یہاں کا راستہ بتائیں گے؟Could you kindly tell us the way around here?
- اُسے کہہ دو کہ وہ مجھ سے ملے!Tell him to meet me!
Example conversation
Ali and Aisha are talking about a meeting.
- علی Aliعائشہ، مجھے وقت بتانا۔Ayesha, mujhe waqt batana.Ayesha, tell me the time.
- عائشہ Ayeshaمیٹنگ دو بجے ہے۔Meeting do bajay hai.The meeting is at two o'clock.
- علی Aliشکریہ، اب جگہ بھی بتانا۔Shukriya, ab jagah bhi batana.Thanks, now tell me the place too.
- عائشہ Ayeshaوہ کمرہ نمبر پانچ میں ہے۔Woh kamra number paanch mein hai.It is in room number five.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بتانا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
